Blast Repairable Plough

ABSTRACT

A repairable plough for mine and area clearance is provided and comprises a main support frame and a blade formed from a plurality of modular blade sections that are detachably connected to the main support frame.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims priority to GB1615931.1 filed on 19 Sep. 2016, and GB1616792.6 filed 3 Oct. 2016, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety for any and all non-limiting purposes.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to mine and area clearance and particularly to a blast repairable mine-plough, for example provided as front end equipment for an armoured earthmover.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Existing mine clearing ploughs are generally used on military vehicles, in particular heavyweight battle tanks. An example is the Full Width Mine-Plough on the M1 Assault Breacher Vehicle (ABV).

The purpose of these tank mounted ploughs is to either protect the tracks of the vehicle itself from initiating pressure activated mines, or to clear a full width lane for other vehicles to follow. The purpose is to clear a path through a minefield in a battle situation, possibly under enemy attack.

The mine plough has to maintain its integrity through the minefield. It is possible that the mine-plough will be subject to explosions from AP & AT mines (Anti-Personnel & Anti-Tank). Mine-plough designs have been developed to be ‘blast tolerant’. This involves the use of blow out panels and heavy structural members and was developed from observation of experimental blast testing.

CA2383811 A1 relates to a method for removing explosive devices from an area of land.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to mine clearance and particularly to a mine clearance plough apparatus, for example provided as front end equipment for an armoured vehicle.

According to an aspect of the present invention there is provided a repairable plough for mine and area clearance, comprising: a main support frame; and a blade formed from a plurality of modular blade sections that are detachably connected to the main support frame.

According to a further aspect there is provided a repairable plough for mine and area clearance, comprising a main support frame, a blade formed from a plurality of modular blade sections that are detachably connected to the main support frame, and a plurality of tines, detachably connected to the modular blade sections.

The blade sections may extend in generally parallel ranks across the frame.

The plough may further comprise one or more tines connected to one or more of the modular blade sections.

The or each tine may be detachably connected to the blade section/s.

The or each tine may include a replaceable tip.

The main support frame may comprise a top rail and each modular blade section includes a hook section so that they can be hooked onto the rail.

The main support frame may comprise an upper and lower tubular member that are arranged in an open structure so as to be blast tolerant.

The parts of the main support frame closest to the plurality of tines may be constructed from thick tubular members.

The modular blade sections may be offset from the main support frame.

The main support frame may be offset from the plurality of tines.

Each modular blade section may further comprise a wire attachment arranged to limit travel of the modular blade section in the event of the modular blade section becoming detached from the blade by a blast.

Each of the plurality of tines may be individually attached to a modular blade section via two shear pins.

Each modular blade section may comprise two tines.

Each modular blade section may further comprise a lift member for allowing each modular blade section to be lifted onto the main support frame.

The plough may have a substantially arrow-like arrangement when viewed from above.

The plough may further comprise a frangible skid mount with fixings designed to shear off in the event of a blast.

The plough further may comprise a pedestal crane for in-field repair.

The plough may be mountable to a dozer.

According to a further aspect there is provided a method of repairing a plough for mine and area clearance as described herein, comprising the steps of connecting one or more tines to a modular blade section, and mounting the modular blade section onto a main support frame of the plough.

A further aspect provides a method of repairing a plough for mine and area clearance as described herein, comprising the steps of: connecting one or more tines to a modular blade section; and mounting the modular blade section onto a main support frame of the plough.

The method may further comprise the step of replaceably connecting one or more tines to one or more of the modular blade sections.

Each tine may be connected to the modular blade section via two shear pins that act to shear in the event of a blast.

The plough may be arranged in use such that one or more of the plurality of tines are the first part of the plough to make physical contact with a mine.

The tines may act as overload protection in the event of hitting an immovable object.

The one or more tines may provide the first line of failure in the event of a mine blast.

The support frame may comprises an upper and lower tubular member, the upper tubular member comprising a top rail onto which the modular blade section is hook-ably mounted and rotated into a position for mine and area clearance.

The modular sections may be intentionally designed to fail during a blast.

The modular blade sections may be detachably replaceable.

The modular blade sections may absorb blast energy in the event of a blast.

The modular blade sections may provide protection from a blast to the main support frame.

The tines and their respective connections to the modular blade sections may be designed to fail during a blast.

The modular blade sections and their respective connections to the main support frame may be designed to fail during a blast.

A further aspect provides a kit of parts for repairing a plough for mine and area clearance as described herein, comprising one or more modular blade section and/or one or more tines and/or one or more tine tips.

According to a further aspect there is provided a kit of parts for repairing a plough for mine and area clearance as described herein, comprising a modular blade section and one or more tines.

A further aspect provides a mine ploughing vehicle provided with a mine plough as described herein.

Optional features of the repairable plough are recited in the dependent claims.

Further particular and preferred aspects of the present invention are set out in the accompanying independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims may be combined with the features of the independent claims as appropriate, and in combination other than those explicitly set out in the claims. Each aspect can be carried out independently of the other aspects or in combination with one or more of the other aspects.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a known full width mine plough for military mine-field breaching and having a blast tolerant design;

FIG. 2 illustrates a blast repairable plough fitted to a dozer;

FIG. 3A illustrates a blast repairable mine-plough viewed from behind;

FIG. 3B illustrates a blast repairable mine-plough viewed from the front;

FIG. 3C is a schematic of a blast repairable mine-plough viewed from behind;

FIG. 3D is a schematic of a blast repairable mine-plough viewed from the front;

FIG. 4A illustrates a blast resistant frame viewed from the rear;

FIG. 4B illustrates a blast resistant frame viewed from the front;

FIG. 4C is a schematic of a blast resistant frame viewed from the rear;

FIG. 4D is a schematic of a blast resistant frame viewed from the front;

FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a modular blade segment;

FIGS. 5C and 5D are schematics of a modular blade segment;

FIG. 6A illustrates individually replaceable tines;

FIG. 6B is a schematic of individually replaceable tines;

FIGS. 7A to 7C illustrate a blade segment replacement sequence;

FIGS. 7D to 7F are schematics of a blade segment replacement sequence;

FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate a blade segment replacement sequence;

FIGS. 8C and 8D are schematics of a blade segment replacement sequence;

FIGS. 9A and 9B illustrate a blade segment replacement sequence;

FIGS. 9C and 9D are schematics of a blade segment replacement sequence;

FIG. 10 illustrates a blade segment replacement sequence;

FIG. 11 illustrates a blade segment replacement sequence;

FIG. 12 illustrates a frangible skid mount;

FIG. 13 is a schematic of a blast repairable plough viewed from above; and

FIG. 14 is a schematic of a blast repairable plough viewed from the rear.

DESCRIPTION

Plough attached to Armoured Earth Mover such as Dozer

A mine-plough (100) has been designed to fit on an armoured earthmover (110), in particular a dozer. This could be used by the military in a follow up clearance operation, not normally under enemy fire. It is not intended for use in front line battle situations. It is also possible that such a mine-plough could be part of the toolkit used for commercial or humanitarian de-mining and area clearance, for removal of mines and ERW (Explosive Remnants of War).

The design requirements for such a mine-plough are therefore different from that of military mine-field breaching. In this instance, a very useful design feature would be ease of repair following a blast.

Blast Repairable Design

The explosive blast can originate from a variety of explosive devices and in a variety of locations and orientations on the mine-plough.

To this end, it would be useful if the design had a progression of repair options, from simple to more complex depending upon the damage. Modularity of parts and design for intentional part, or connection failure during a blast (in a similar fashion to a car crumple zone) are also useful design features.

The present invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

The example embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to embody and implement the systems and processes herein described. It is important to understand that embodiments can be provided in many alternative forms and should not be construed as limited to the examples set forth herein.

Accordingly, while embodiments can be modified in various ways and take on various alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof are shown in the drawings and described in detail below as examples. There is no intent to limit to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the appended claims should be included. Elements of the example embodiments are consistently denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and detailed description where appropriate.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein are to be interpreted as is customary in the art. It will be further understood that terms in common usage should also be interpreted as is customary in the relevant art and not in an idealised or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In the following description, all orientational terms, such as upper, lower, radially and axially, are used in relation to the drawings and should not be interpreted as limiting on the invention.

In an embodiment, the mine-plough (100) has a plurality of tines (120). Each tine is attached singly via two pins (520). An example of such a mounting arrangement is shown in the drawings. These act as overload protection in the event of hitting an immovable object and also provide the first line of failure in the event of a large blast. The tines are the first part of the mine-plough to make contact with the mines.

The mines and soil then work their way upwards and onto the blade sections. In this mine-plough embodiment, the blade is split into a plurality of modular sections which are spaced off from the main support frame (400). They are attached in such a way, that in the event of a blast, the intention is to absorb the energy in one or more of the blade modular sections (310).

Each blade section may include a lift member (700) for allowing each modular blade section to be lifted onto the main support frame and may also have a secondary wire attachment (lanyard) to limit its travel in the event of it becoming detached by a blast.

These can then be removed and replaced relatively easily in the field. Spare sections could be carried with the vehicle and the vehicle can have its own simple crane to allow in-field replacement. The aim is to avoid the blast damaging the main support frame.

An example modular blade section and its method of mounting to the main frame are shown. A schematic showing method of replacement is shown in same. The blade sections (310) are arranged in a row as parallel ranks. Each section (310) has a hook section (312) so that they can be hooked onto and off the support frame rail (410). The blade sections are hooked onto the rail and rotate into position (see FIGS. 9A to 9D), coming to rest on the lower frame rail (420).

Note that all main loads on the lower tube go through either compression or shear stops, rather than on bolts.

Ploughing loads go by direct compression into lower tube.

Any sideways loads go into shear stops.

Any upward load goes into shear stops.

Tensile load on top tube goes into hooks.

Each segment could have a second wire attachment to limit its travel if detached by a blast.

The mine-plough main support frame (400) is designed to be blast tolerant, rather than repairable. To this end, the frame is spaced off from the parts (120, 310) which make physical contact with the mines. On the frame, the parts (410, 420) nearest the blast are constructed from thick wall tubes. The pressure wave from a blast does less damage when passing over a tubular shape, than when meeting a flat face.

The overall structure maximises the use of open spaces (430), again to provide easiest venting for the blast.

Bolt-on individual tines (120) are provided and connect onto blade sections (310). The tines attached individually, in this embodiment by two shear pins. This provides overload protection. The pins are designed to shear in the event of a blast.

Replaceable tine tips (122) are provided for the tines (120).

Replacement of tines and/or tips is simple.

A pedestal crane (150) is provided for in-field repair.

In this embodiment, the plough has three levels of repair: i) blade sections; ii) tines; tine tips.

The plough may further comprise a frangible skid mount (540) with fixings designed to shear off in the event of a blast.

Although an illustrative embodiment of the invention has been disclosed in detail herein, with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is understood that the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments shown and that various changes and modifications can be effected therein by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents. 

We claim:
 1. A repairable plough for mine and area clearance, comprising: a main support frame; and a blade formed from a plurality of modular blade sections that are detachably connected to the main support frame.
 2. A repairable plough as claimed in claim 1, in which the blade sections extend in generally parallel ranks across the frame.
 3. A repairable plough as claimed in claim 1, further comprising one or more tines connected to one or more of the modular blade sections.
 4. A repairable plough as claimed in claim 3, in which the or each tine is detachably connected to the blade sections.
 5. A repairable plough as claimed in claim 3, in which the or each tine includes a replaceable tip.
 6. A repairable plough as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main support frame comprises a top rail and each modular blade section includes a hook section so that they can be hooked onto the rail.
 7. A repairable plough as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main support frame comprises an upper and lower tubular member that are arranged in an open structure so as to be blast tolerant.
 8. A repairable plough according to claim 1, wherein the parts of the main support frame closest to the plurality of tines are constructed from thick tubular members.
 9. A repairable plough according to claim 1, wherein the modular blade sections are offset from the main support frame.
 10. A repairable plough according to claim 3, wherein the main support frame is offset from the plurality of tines.
 11. A repairable plough according to claim 1, wherein each modular blade section further comprises a wire attachment arranged to limit travel of the modular blade section in the event of the modular blade section becoming detached from the blade by a blast.
 12. A repairable plough according to claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of tines is individually attached to a modular blade section via two shear pins.
 13. A repairable plough according to claim 3, wherein each modular blade section comprises two tines.
 14. A repairable plough according to claim 1, wherein each modular blade section further comprises a lift member for allowing each modular blade section to be lifted onto the main support frame.
 15. A repairable plough according to claim 1, wherein the plough has a substantially arrow-like arrangement when viewed from above.
 16. A repairable plough according to claim 1, wherein the plough further comprises a frangible skid mount with fixings designed to shear off in the event of a blast.
 17. A repairable plough according to claim 1, wherein the plough further comprises a pedestal crane for in-field repair.
 18. A blast repairable mine plough, comprising: a main support frame; a blade formed from a plurality of modular blade sections that are detachably connected to the main support frame; and a plurality of tines, detachably connected to the modular blade sections.
 19. A kit of parts for repairing a plough as claimed in claim 1, comprising one or more modular blade section and/or one or more tines and/or one or more tine tips.
 20. A mine ploughing vehicle provided with a mine plough according to claim
 1. 